Ben Carson: Egyptian pyramids were used to store grain, not Pharaohs' tombs

Egypt’s pyramids were built by the biblical Joseph to store grain and were not, as archaeologists believe, tombs for pharaohs, Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson has said.

The retired neurosurgeon, who is seeking his party’s nomination for the White House, made these remarks in a 1998 address at Andrews University, a Michigan school associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, to which he belongs, in a video posted on Buzzfeed on Wednesday.

The church is a conservative evangelical Christian one.

“My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain,” Carson – who last week overtook Republican rival Donald Trump for the first time in a national poll – told graduates in his address.

“Now all the archeologists think that they were made for the pharaohs’ graves. But, you know, it would have to be something awfully big if you stop and think about it.

“And I don’t think it’d just disappear over the course of time to store that much grain.”

Asked on Wednesday if he still held these views, Carson told CBS News: “It’s still my belief, yes.”

Speaking to MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday, rival Republican Trump said: “He’s informed me about the pyramids. I think I’ll have to put that in my repertoire about Ben. That was a strange deal.”

In his 1998 address, Carson said: “And when you look at the way that the pyramids are made, with many chambers that are hermetically sealed, they’d have to be that way for various reasons.

“And various of scientists have said, ‘Well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how, you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you’.”

In the old testament book of Genesis, Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, was said to have “stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure”.

After seven years of plenty, the story in Genesis says, Egypt suffered seven years of famine, during which Joseph was able to feed the people with the grain he had stored.

Carson has spoken often about his faith, saying recently of his critics: “They say, ‘Carson, you know, how can you be a surgeon, a neurosurgeon, and believe that God created the Earth, and not believe in evolution, which is the basis of all knowledge and all science?’ …

“But I do believe God created us, and I did just fine … And in fact, the more you know about God, and the deeper your relationship with God, I think the more intricate becomes your knowledge of the way things work, including the human body.”

Actually 2 of them, or at least they think so. I'm dying to see what maybe sealed in there. Its amazing the guy discovered it without being in the tomb. I was in Tuts tomb and stood and looked at the frescos. It could have been me if I had Xray eyes.

The fact that there are royal seals on the the doorways means at worst more burial goods and at best another burial of Nefertiti or some other unknown royal.

That's really cool...

I'm married to an Archaeologist actually. My wife is in a very rare minority of archaeologists.....employed....actually employed as an archeologist...She will be jealous when I tell her of your Egypt journeys.

I'm married to an Archaeologist actually. My wife is in a very rare minority of archaeologists.....employed....actually employed as an archeologist...She will be jealous when I tell her of your Egypt journeys.

You hit on exactly why I am not one, didn't want to be sacking groceries congrats to her and you.

Oh btw have you let her read this thread. I did with my dad and he laughed till I was afraid he might die.

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Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.

They had the temperament of a bunch of drunk, rowdy bikers telling stories around a campfire. I wouldn't call them 'sexy' as much as I'd say they really liked to talk about bangin' chicks.

But the Egyptians? Hoo boy.

Link me up on the Egyptians I've honestly never heard of this .

__________________
Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.

__________________
Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.

__________________
Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.

I'm married to an Archaeologist actually. My wife is in a very rare minority of archaeologists.....employed....actually employed as an archeologist...She will be jealous when I tell her of your Egypt journeys.

I've been on at least 6 archaeology digs in Egypt and Israel. On one I was cleaning out a side room and discovered a mosaic floor that turned out to be another room. I was the first person to see this in 2000 years. Really cool.

Your first mistake is relying on PBS and Discovery for accurate historical perspective.

Actually they used to be pretty good resources in the day along with History Channel whey they actually televised history. I have seen world renowned Egyptologists and Archaeologists discuss why they think the pyrimids were buit and how they think they were built and who they think built them. They have one thing in common none agree on anything.

What a valuable resource we have Dave Lane, Fish, Cosmo etc to solve the unknown right here in CP .

And who is he so we may be impressed by his laughter. Indian arrowhead collector from the Flint Hills of Kansas?

Well he is a retired doctor, but like one that believes in, well, science.

__________________
Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.

I've been on at least 6 archaeology digs in Egypt and Israel. On one I was cleaning out a side room and discovered a mosaic floor that turned out to be another room. I was the first person to see this in 2000 years. Really cool.

__________________
Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, Logan Act, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.